It's Monday, What are you Reading? (75)

What a week!  I had a work event last Sunday and then Monday I was up early to head to NYC for my first ever BEA.  I took my mom with me as a sidekick and we may have a new blogger on our hands!  I will keep you updated on her progress.  


Yesterday, I had an event to attend with the boy which was a lot of fun, but I am definitely exhausted.  Today we had a quiet day and then met up with my parents at One More Page for a fundraiser for Parkinsons' and some dinner.  


I am not sure I am ready for a new full work week to begin, hopefully some reading time will be involved.


A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney. 

Finished this past week:
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris
The 500 by Matthew Quirk


Currently Reading:
Jennifer's Garden by Dianne Venetta


Next off the TBR pile:
Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

Stay Tuned

Hello friends!  Stay tuned next weekend for a massive BEA recap and a video (with the mom) showing what all we brought home from BEA.    

Review: Picture This by Jacqueline Sheehan

Picture This by Jacqueline Sheehan

Publisher: William Morrow Publishers 

Pages: 304 

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  Peaks Island, Maine vibrates with its own special magic, a unique flow to life that knits together the small community that calls it home. The people, the animals, and even the houses have a charm and personality all their own. Just ask Rocky Pelligrino. Devastated by her husband Bob’s sudden death, she found hope thanks to a relentlessly loyal black Lab namedCooper. Warm friends and a new job—as the island’s Animal Control Warden—have helped Rocky chart a course toward a promising future. She’s even ready to try at love again with Hill, the gentle and patient archery instructor. And there is an old house haunted by lost love and forgotten secrets that speaks to her soul.

But a phone call from a troubled young woman looking for her biological father shakes Rocky’s newfound joy. Could this young girl hold a tendril of the man who was the love of her life? Or could the girl’s appearance throw Rocky’s world into chaos . . . and shatter her heart again?





Kritters Thoughts:  A widow who feels like she has lost everything when her husband passes away and an 18 year-old girl who is trying to become a woman even though she had very little guidance growing up in the foster care system are the two main characters in this book.  BUT this book is full of side bar characters, chocked full to the point of almost confusing.


I enjoyed the heart of the story, the moments when the story centered on Rocky or Natalie, but there was so much beyond it that weighed the whole novel down.  There were many times were I was lost and confused with the connections between the characters and where it was all going to go.  The confusion wasn't the happy kind of confusion.  The end was satisfying, but it took quite a few hurdles to get to the conclusion.


A little slow and long, but the premise of the story can keep a reader sucked in until the last page. 






Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more


Ebook Challenge 2012: 28 out of 25  

April-June Challenge 2012: Dog Days of Summer


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.  


Tour Stops:

Tuesday, May 22nd: Silver & Grace

Thursday, May 24th: Iwriteinbooks’ blog

Monday, May 28th: Hospitable Pursuits

Wednesday, May 30th: Chocolate & Croissants

Tuesday, June 5th: Just Joanna

Wednesday, June 6th: Jenny Loves to Read

Friday, June 8th: Kritters Ramblings

Tuesday, June 12th: Peppermint PhD

Tuesday, June 12th: BookNAround

Wednesday, June 13th: Peeking Between the Pages

Thursday, June 14th: My Bookshelf

Review: Clean Break by David Klein

Clean Break by David Klein 

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group 

Pages: 384 

Format: book 

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Lured by the hope of a better life for herself and her son, Celeste Vanek must deal with the emotional and physical resistance of her compulsive gambler husband when she asks for a divorce.  Though she hopes she is on the verge of making a clean break, her husband demands his family back, and things get violent.  Jake Atwood, who witnesses the shocking scene between Celeste and her husband, struggles with his own emotional and ethical issues while attempting to help Celeste escape her marriage. At the same time, Jake is involved with Sara, a married and childless police detective who has a private agenda to pursue when a crime is committed that links all of these characters together and changes their lives forever.

Kritters Thoughts:  When pitched this book to read, I was immediately sucked in by the perfect blurp of the book, but I had no idea it would take such a dramatic turn until it was right in front of me.   Let's back up first - we start the story with Celeste who is a mom and is moving out of her home while her husband is in rehab.  The reader quickly finds out that he is abusive and still fighting some major demons.  Then we meet Jake who is the non-committer and is accidentally swept into Celeste's drama.


I was immediately swept away into Celeste's story and wanted to know how she was going to handle raising her son and dealing with an abusive relationship.  Although there were some parts that were hard to read, it made me feel like I was really in Celeste's inner circle as I read the abuse.  I have not been in an abusive relationship, but I imagine that the portrayal was pretty on point and seeing her son's reaction felt very truthful.


There was quite a twist that threw me for a loop towards the end and took the story to a completely different level that I wasn't prepared for - of course I can not divulge as you must go grab this one!  I am curious as to if you think the twist was a good one?

Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from BookSparks PR.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

Review: The Sixes by Kate White

The Sixes by Kate White 

Publisher: Harper 

Pages: 384  

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon 

Goodreads:  Phoebe Hall's Manhattan life has suddenly begun to unravel. Right after her long-term boyfriend breaks off their relationship, she's falsely accused of plagiarizing her latest bestselling celebrity biography. Looking for a quiet place to put her life back together, Phoebe jumps at the offer to teach in a sleepy Pennsylvania town at a small private college run by her former boarding school roommate and close friend, Glenda Johns.

But behind the campus's quiet cafes and leafy maple trees lie evil happenings. The body of a female student washes up on the banks of a nearby river, and disturbing revelations begin to surface: accusations from coeds about abuses wrought by a secret society of girls on campus known as The Sixes.. To help Glenda, Phoebe embarks on a search for clues--a quest that soon raises painful memories of her own boarding school days years ago.

Kritters Thoughts:  A wonderful who dun it with a strong female characters at the lead.  Phoebe Hall has moved to small town PA to help cover a teaching position as her best friend is the college president.  Glenda is the college president and with all the drama that is going on on campus, she is fearful for her job and her safety.  These two women along with the police are trying to find the connection between some recent drownings right off campus and a secret underground society made up solely of college women.


I absolutely adored these two female characters - they had been friends through rough times and were there for each other through it all.  Seeing a strong female friendship was refreshing.  Beyond the characters, the story was pitch perfect.  I loved the twists and turns throughout the book and the person who ended up bring the culprit was present throughout the book and I loved that I didn't put all the clues together until the end.  After the drownings were solved there was still more book and more questions to answer, it was chock full of mysteries to solve.


I would recommend this book to new fans to the mystery genre and old hats to the genre. I kept thinking of it as a grown up Nancy Drew, do you agree?


Rating:  absolutely loved it and want a sequel


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own. 


The tour schedule:

Tuesday, June 5th: Kritters Ramblings

Wednesday, June 6th: Life is Short. Read Fast.

Thursday, June 7th: Twisting the Lens

Monday, June 11th: Why Girls Are Weird

Tuesday, June 12th: Colloquium

Wednesday, June 13th: Book Him Danno!

Thursday, June 14th: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Tuesday, June 19th: Life In Review

Wednesday, June 20th: A Novel Source

Thursday, June 21st: My Bookshelf

Review: Ragdoll Redeemed by Dawn Novotny

Ragdoll Redeemed by Dawn Novotny

Pages: 168 

Format: eARC 

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  In 1963, I was just 17. I thought God had finally come through for me. Out of nowhere appeared my dashing Prince Charming. Married within three months, I was sure this was the redemption from my ragdoll beginnings. Though I had lived in the shadow of illegitimacy, bludgeoning poverty, physical and sexual abuse, I was sure I would prove worthy to my bridegroom. After all, I had remained a virgin. How was I to know that he expected me to be an aggressive sex-pot, or "whore" as he put it, modeled after the persona of his famous step-mother, Marilyn Monroe? Thus began my ill-fated effort to compete with the sexual image of Marilyn. Divorced after two years, I found myself-as I saw it-"used goods." Ironically, I reacted by becoming just what Joey had wanted- an alcoholic and a sex-object-not only in men's eyes but in my own.




Kritters Thoughts:  A little on the depressing side, this book at the beginning was hard to stomach because you felt so much for Dawn as she was struggling through a treacherous childhood.  I was amazed at how many things this young girl had dealt with before hitting the age of 18 and trying to break free from the hold her mother had on her from the beginning.


Although it is set somewhat chronologically, I felt as though within each chapter there was some jumping around in time, which was quite confusing.  I wish there had been less chapter breaks and more of a timeline feel, so I knew where we were in this woman's life.  On the flip side, I am so thankful for the ending.  I was hoping that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and it finally showed up close to the bitter end.


A memoir that didn't strike a chord with me, but for those fans of Marilyn Monroe, it is an interesting take on her and her extended family.


Rating:  enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more


Ebook Challenge 2012: 29 out of 25   


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from WOW Blog Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.  

It's Monday, What are you Reading? (74)

Technically, it is Sunday night and I am finishing up my prep for BEA and have survived the company Family Park Day!  I probably won't be sleeping much tonight!


As of tomorrow, I will be in and out all week, but will have lots to share!


A meme hosted by Sheila at BookJourney. 

Finished this past week:
The Sixes by Kate White
Clean Break by David Klein
One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf


Currently Reading:
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris

Next off the TBR pile:
A Lighter Shade of Gray by Devon Pearse

In My Mailbox (72)

Two weeks worth of books to share!  I always feel a weekend isn't complete when I miss/skip In My Mailbox.  Did everyone have a good holiday weekend?  


What fun books came your way over the past few weeks?


A meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:
The Color of Tea by Hannah Tunnicliffe  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Shout Her Lovely Name by Natalie Serber  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Torn by Yolanda Klem  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Clean Break by David Klein  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris  (Goodreads  Amazon)
You Take it From Here by Pamela Ribon  (Goodreads  Amazon)
Abdication by Juliet Nicolson  (Goodreads  Amazon)
The Conviction by Robert Dugoni  (Goodreads  Amazon)

Swapped:
Let's Meet on Platform 8 by Carole Matthews  (Goodreads  Amazon)


Winnings:
I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag by Jennifer Gilbert  (Goodreads  Amazon)

On My Way to BEA

Well I have started packing my bags and am almost ready to head to NYC for BEA.  There is one big thing looming in my way - a company family park day that is all my responsibility tomorrow.  SO tomorrow after 8pm I will officially be on vacation and mentally on my way to BEA!


Are you going to BEA?  If so, what are you most excited about it?


Are you going to do Armchair BEA?  I participated last year and I loved it as a prequel to my attendance this year.


I am excited to meet some of my contacts in person and of course, definitely excited to meet some new friends.  How do you describe this event to non-bookish people?


Hope to see you there, I will be the one grinning from ear to ear!

Where went May?

Image

Oh My what a MAY!  I always say this, but I can not believe how much reading I got accomplished.  I am still ahead on my yearly goal which is such a good feeling knowing how much my personal life is going to affect my reading in the next few months!  


Books Completed:
1. The Coffins of Little Hope by Timothy Schafferty
2. Daughters for a Time by Jennifer Handford
3. Keepsake by Kristina Riggle
4. A Gift for My Sister by Ann Pearlman
5. SASS Yourself Slim by Cynthia Sass
6. The Most Dangerous Thing by Laura Lippman
7. The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore
8. So Far Away by Meg Mitchell Moore
9. What the Dog Ate by Jackie Bouchard
10. Long Gone by Alafair Burke
11. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
12. The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty
13. Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
14. Ragdoll Redeemed by Dawn Novotny
15. The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri
16. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
17. The Sixes by Kate White
18. Clean Break by David Klein

Total pages read, clicked, and flipped: 5,798

Where Have I Been Reading?:
Nebraska
Washington, D.C.
Lansing, MI
Ann Arbor, MI
Baltimore, MD
Burlington, VT
Boston, MA
San Diego, CA
New York City, NY (3)
Paris, France
Los Angeles, CA (2)
Maine
Manaus, Brazil
Lyle, PA